WHITE COAT CEREMONY: 140 new residents and fellows are recognized with an emblem of their entry into the medical profession. PHOTO COURTESY OF BROWARD HEALTH

Fort Lauderdale – Broward Health welcomed 140 new residents and fellows, the largest Graduate Medical Education class in its 87year history, during a White Coat Ceremony at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina.

Each doctor received their white coat, an emblem of their entry into the medical profession.

For the 2025-2026 academic year, Broward Health has a total of 365 residents and fellows, which is a 9% increase from the previous year.

Included in the 26 residency and fellowship programs are eight new specialties, including nephrology, infectious disease and otolaryngology, which have been added in the past two years.

Plans are to expand the program with additional specialties, including OB/GYN and interventional cardiology, to meet community needs.

Each resident and fellow is paired with a resident mentor and a faculty mentor to help them assimilate not just with rotations but for career and lifestyle planning. They will work across all four hospitals in the Broward Health system.

To accommodate the growth of the GME program, a new space at Broward Health North opened in 2024, and a new 28,225-square-foot state-of-the-art facility will open in August to serve the new residents and fellows at Broward Health Medical Center.

Among this year’s highlights, 30year-old Louise Francesca Inocentes, a former fashion industry professional, is now pursuing her medical career at the same hospital as her father, Dr. Ariel Inocentes, medical director of Broward Health North’s Rehabilitation Institute. “It’s surreal to be working in the same hospital as my dad,” she said. “This is a full-circle moment.”

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome these residents and fellows,” said Shane Strum, president and CEO of Broward Health. “The growth of our GME program is critical to our role in meeting the ever evolving healthcare needs of our community. We are committed to providing world-class training to tomorrow’s healthcare leaders.”

With an operating budget of $1.8 billion, Broward Health is one of the largest employers in Broward County, with more than 11,000 employees and physicians serving patients regardless of their ability to pay, and providing more than $470 million of charity and uncompensated care annually.

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